Enhancements to time synchronization in distributed systems

A variety of enhancements to a time synchronization protocol for a distributed system(10) or (100) including techniques for improving accuracy by separating a unique timing point (52) from a delimiter 54 for the timing data packet (18). The enhancements include techniques that compensate for jitter associated with communication circuitry in the distributed system (10) or (100) including jitter associated with physical interfaces and gateways in the distributed system. These techniques may involve specialized circuitry in the communication circuitry to compensate for jitter or special processing of received timing data packets or the introduction of follow up packets (16) that inform receiving nodes of measured jitter or a combination of these techniques.